FF is not really on my list, as I don't have any compatible lenses and not prepare to pay for a heavier system. I like K5 for its size, weight and performance, but the lenses leave a lot to desire. I need quality fast zoom and WR primes. The 16-50 is too slow for my field of work, and IQ could be better. As much as I wish to stay on I am likely to move to GH3 and 12-35 f2.8. And to make things worse the local Pentax agent has changed to a less desirable distributor. Maybe in 3 years time there could be a 16-50 mark 2 comparable to the speedy Canon 24-70, and hopefully an updated WR primes with DC or Screw Drive to make me drool. I sure missed the pentaxians.

the lack of FF itself is not the immidate problem, but for me it shows the Symptomes with Pentax.

We are always "assuming" there there is something "behind" the next corner.

Since i got my k20 it was like " hey, there will be FF"

And there are so much things which needs to be adressed....

1. Teleconverter( a really working one)
2. DC-Motor = that thing might be faster then SDM but its FAR away from beeing really fast(at least as far we can see it in the 18-135)
3. almost all lenses could need a upgrade (without some "double charge" )
4. What is this K5-Upgrade? Not even a better Processor or a better SD-Slot....tilting screen, better video etc. not to talk
5. Tethering......(nothing more to say here)
6. IF EVER a FF from pentax sees the light of the day it will be 2500€ and the specs of the D600...
7. we see where R&D ressources go ( funny 360° camera)
8. please stop this " a new product needs 18month for development"-talking in 18Month you can design/develope 3-6 lenses, and dont be so overly protective, designing of a new lens isn't magic, it still follows some rules.(Maybe for a super-mega-über-FF-Killer-DSLR)
9. 560mm, wow nice, still extremly expensive and according to some user its a quite cheap design....

For me its the same like we heard from hoya, just a bit more smiling and a bit more "pseudo" caring.

1. It's on the roadmap, so they will launch it (because Ricoh)
2. Let's see... it should be a priority for them.
3. Not sure if "almost all"; but I'd guess even the Limiteds could be weather sealed, at least.
4. Poor Nikon folks, still using their D300s and waiting for a replacement...
5. Agree
6. You don't know that
7. From what I was told, that's a Ricoh project. Anyway, they shouldn't pursue only a very specific line of cameras and be blind to everything else, so... the yo-yo camera is OK.
8. You have no idea how long it would take; not only optical design but also mechanical&electronics, then to prepare the product for the market.
9. Those users were wrong.

What's happening now can't be more different than with Hoya; investing&growing is not the same as cost cutting.

You've found me
It's a long lens, not a telephoto - thus the simpler design (though it still have 2 ED elements). However, it doesn't mean it's cheap.
Can 2 extra elements make the difference between "rather complex" and "cheap"?

You are right, i dont know how long it needs to finish a DSLR or a DSLR-Lens, but if i compare something like that to power-transformators which are developed and adjusted to customer needs in around 3-6 Month, or Flow-Cytometry-Devices for medical research which have turn around time of about 1 year ( but are wtf more complicated then an dslr) , then i assume 18month are too long for a "cheapo"-APS-C-DSLR

I think someone else mentioned it already , IF that design would have some specific advantage besides beeing rather inexpensive, WHY has no other manufacturer used it already?